Hello all, I recently got a 1989 740 GL Wagon. It needs some work done to it but otherwise it's in fairly decent condition. However, I was informed by the seller that the speedometer and odometer weren't working. He had a sheet with a some of the possible issues and told me that the mechanic said the sensor on the drive shaft just needed to be tightened. I didn't think it was a big deal, should be an easy fix right. Wrong. When driving it home it got dark and I realized the lights for the instrument panel also weren't working. The warning lights (check engine, service, parking brake, brights, etc) all worked fine but I couldn't see the gauges. I changed all the bulbs and fuses and still nothing. Going back to the sensor, I took it off (after some difficulty getting the original Allen key bolt off) cleaned it some and plugged it back in. (I'll also add that it didn't look like it was plugged in all the way originally.) The wires look a little rough with some electrical tape wrapped around one with the exposed wires. Is this a common issue and just needs the abs sensor replaced? Or is it the wires? For the instrument cluster lights, could this be related to the sensor not working? I'll also add that upon research, I found the lights could be because of a bad day running lamp fuses so I changed that only to find there was nothing connected to that fuse slot. It seems the day running lamps still work regardless though. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

I will also add that the speedometer doesn't budge when I turn the car on

 

The speedo pickup (sensor) in the rear differential is pretty basic and usually the wires get damaged. This is normal and just needs to be cleaned up and retaped. . If the speedo doesn't work then it is most likely a problem with the circuit board in the unit. There may be other cracks in the circuit of the whole cluster. I had my 89 740 cluster redone buy a place in Penn. Did this years ago.. The shop is " Powl's Speedometer & Auto Care Center. Lancaster Pa. 717 898-2552 " . Give them a call and talk to them. They are helpful and pretty friendly.